Textile articles for washing and cleaning applications

ABSTRACT

A material for use in washing comprising a textile article having a first functionality and a water-soluble container enclosing a composition having a second functionality.

The present invention relates to a material for use in washing, saidmaterial comprising a textile article.

It is known to use textile articles in washing processes. For example, atextile article is sold which can act as a “dye catcher”. Such a textilearticle is added to a laundry wash and will preferentially bind dyemolecules should they be released from clothing being washed. In thisway, the inadvertent dyeing of other clothes in the wash is reduced.

We have developed a system of much more general applicability.

The present invention provides a material for use in washing comprisinga textile article having a first functionality and a water-solublecontainer enclosing a composition having a second functionality.

The material of the present invention may, for example, be for adding toa laundry washing machine. In this instance the present invention alsoprovides a method of laundry washing which comprises placing laundry andsaid material in a laundry washing machine and operating the machine toclean the laundry.

The material of the present invention may also, for example, be foradding to a ware washing machine such as a dishwashing machine. In thisinstance the present invention also provides a method of ware washing,in particular a method of dishwashing, which comprises placing wares andsaid material in a dishwashing machine and operating the machine toclean the wares.

The material of the present invention comprises at least two components,the first being the textile article and the second being thewater-soluble (which term is taken to include water-dispersible)container. In a washing process, the textile article provides a firstfunctionality, and the water-soluble container provides a secondfunctionality. The functionalities can operate at the same or differentstages of the washing process, and can be the same or different. Thematerial of the present invention may also be used to keep apartfunctionalities which may be incompatible with each other duringstorage.

The textile article provides a first functionality which can be anyfunctionality desired in the washing process. The textile article canhave the first functionality being in the form of a second compositionreversibly impregnated therein or deposited thereon. The secondcomposition may be, for example, a fabric care, surface care ordishwashing composition, especially a dishwashing, water-softening,laundry or detergent composition, or a rinse aid. The second compositionis generally released at the beginning of the washing process since thetextile article is saturated with water at the beginning of the washingprocess. Thus the second composition is desirably a component which isreleased at the beginning of the washing process, such as awater-softening composition. However, the second composition can bereleased at any time during or throughout the washing process ifdesired.

The first functionality can also be in the form of active moieties boundto the textile article. Such active moieties are generally availablethroughout the washing process since they are not released from thetextile article. Examples of suitable moieties are metal-bindingmoieties such as calcium-binding moieties or dye complexing moieties.

The textile article is preferably a sheet, for example a woven, knittedor non-woven sheet. The sheet may, if desired, be secured to one or morefurther sheets, which may be of the same or different material, forminga ply. The textile article may also, for example, be in the form of athick yarn or braid. Another possibility is for the textile article tobe in the form of fibres or filaments, which may, for example, be tiedtogether in a bundle, for example in a tassel or pom-pom. Mostpreferably the textile article is a fabric sheet of relatively openform, for example a non-woven fabric or a woven fabric of scrim form.

The textile article may, if desired, be contained within a rigid orflexible structure in which liquid inlets and liquid outlets areprovided to allow ingress and egress of water. Such a structure may, forinstance, be a cloth bag or a plastic cage, or a water-permeable film.

The textile article may be formed from natural or synthetic fibres or amixture thereof. Suitable materials are polyolefins, poly(haloolefins),insoluble poly(vinyl alcohol), polyesters, polyamides, polyacrylics,protein fibres and cellulosic fibres, for example cotton, viscose andrayon. Preferred are polyolefins, polyacrylics and cellulosic fibres.Polyolefins are especially preferred, particularly polyethylene andpolypropylene.

Side chains may be grafted onto the base fibres to provide the desiredfunctionality. A preferred process is one in which the side chains aregrafted to the base fibres by irradiation, in an inert atmosphere, withimmediate delivery to the irradiated fibres of acrylic acid. Preferablythe radiation is electron beam or gamma radiation, to a total dose of 10to 300 kGy, preferably 20 to 100 kGy. The acrylic acid is preferably ofconcentration 20 to 80 vol % in water, and the temperature at which theacrylic acid is supplied to the irradiated textile article is preferablyan elevated temperature, for example 30 to 80° C. Preferably the basefibres are polyethylene, polypropylene or cellulosic fibres. Thereaction to introduce the side-chains may be carried out on the fibresas such or may suitably be carried out on an already-formed textilearticle, for example a braid or sheet.

The textile article may also be impregnated with or have depositedtherein or thereon the composition having the desired functionality. Theimpregnation or deposition may be carried out on the fibres or on analready-formed textile article, for example a braid or sheet.

In a preferred aspect of this embodiment the textile article maycomprise a component reversibly impregnated or deposited onto thetextile article. In this embodiment the component may be releasedinstantaneously or over a period of time when exposed to water. Thecomponent may be, for example, a water-softening agent able to bindmetal ions, in particular calcium ions and/or magnesium ions. Morepreferably the component is also able to bind other metal ions such ascopper ions and/or iron ions. Such a component may be released at asingle time or, preferably, over a period of time.

Suitable compositions are, for example, those which give, or improve,water-softening, thereby assisting cleaning. Such components willprovide three main types of method of action, described below:

1. Ion exchange agents—such agents include alkali metal (preferablysodium) aluminosilicates, either crystalline, amorphous or a mixture ofthe two. Such aluminosilicates generally have a calcium ion exchangecapacity of at least 50 mg CaO per gram of aluminosilicate, and have thegeneral formula:0.8-1.5 Na₂O.A1 ₂O₃.0.8-6 SiO₂and incorporate some water. Preferred sodium aluminosilicates within theabove formula contain 1.5 to 3.0 SiO₂ units. Both amorphous andcrystalline aluminosilicates can be prepared by reaction between sodiumsilicate and sodium aluminate, as amply described in the literature.

Suitable crystalline sodium aluminosilicate ion-exchange detergencybuilders are described, for example, in GB-A-1,429,143. The preferredsodium aluminosilicates of this type are zeolites, such as zeolites Aand X, and zeolite P as described in EP-A-384,070, and mixtures thereof.

Another class of compounds is the layered sodium silicate builders, suchas are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,464,839, U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,439 andEP-A-551,375.

These materials are defined in U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,439 as beingcrystalline layered, sodium silicates of formula:NaMSi_(x)O_(2x+1).YH₂O

-   -   wherein    -   M is sodium or hydrogen,    -   x is from 1.9 to 4, and    -   y is from 0 to 20.        Literature references describing the preparation of such        materials include Glastechn. Ber. 37, 194-200 (1964), Zeitscrift        fur Kristallogr. 129, 396-404 (1969), Bull. Soc. Franc. Min.        Crist., 95, 371-382 (1972) and Amer. Mineral, 62, 763-771        (1977). These materials also function to remove calcium and        magnesium ions from water.

Also covered are zinc salts which have been shown to be effective aswater-softening agents.

2. Ion capture agents—agents which prevent metal ions from forminginsoluble salts or reacting with surfactants, such as polyphosphates,monomeric polycarbonates such as citric acid or salts thereof, EDTA,aligns, alginates, or imidodisuccinic acid or a salt thereof, such asBaypure CX100.

3. Anti-nucleating agents—agents which prevent seed crystal growth, suchas polycarbonate polymers, such as polyacrylates, acrylic/maleiccopolymers and acrylic phosphonates, polyaspartic acid polymers or asalt thereof, such as Baypure DS100, and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propanesulfonic acid polymers.

In a preferred aspect one or more of the above components may beimpregnated into the textile fibres.

In a preferred aspect one or more of the above components may be presenton the textile article. The components may be deposited on the textilearticle by dosing a solution to the textile article and removing thesolvent, for example by mechanical means, spray drying, evaporation or acombination thereof. Ionic charge may also be used to reversibly bindanionic ionisable ingredients to the textile article.

The textile article can have bound to it such components in the form ofparticles, such as described above, with those particles not beingreleased from the textile article in use.

Alternatively the textile article could carry on it particles, such asdescribed above, with those particles being washed from the textilearticle, and dissolved or dispersed in the wash water, in use.

Another possibility is to have a hybrid system in which some particlesremain on the textile article and some are washed off during its use.

The washing off of such particles may be rapid, slow or progressive inwater. A slow-release system may be attractive in obtaining goodactivity, for example calcium binding, throughout a cleaning method.

Suitably the textile article has more than one functionality. Forexample it may have active side chains such as calcium binding sidechains, as described above, and a further component, such as theparticles or an impregnated component as defined above.

The textile article may, for example, capture anionic species,especially dyes. However, it may also be substantially without means tocapture anionic species in the water.

The water-soluble container may be prepared by any desired method. Forexample it may be prepared by thermoforming, injection-moulding,vertical-form-fill sealing, horizontal-form-fill sealing or by a methodwhich provides pillow packs. The container may comprise one or morecompartments. Examples of such containers are described, for example, inGB-A-2,358,382, WO 01/85898, WO 93/08095, EP-A-544,602 and WO 00/55068.

The water-soluble container encloses a composition having a secondfunctionality. The composition having a second functionality may be, forexample, a fabric care, surface care or dishwashing composition,especially a dishwashing, water-softening, laundry or detergentcomposition, or a rinse aid.

The first functionality and the second functionality may be the same ordifferent. The water-soluble container can have any number of differentfunctions, which it can possess singly or in combination. For example,it can ensure that the composition having a second functionality isreleased at an appropriate time. The composition may, for example, bereleased at the beginning of the washing process, in the middle or nearthe end.

The composition having a second functionality is desirably released at adifferent time or in a different release profile than the firstfunctionality is available from the textile article. Thus thecomposition having a second functionality may be released all at onceand be available during only part of the washing process, whereas thefirst functionality may be available throughout the washing process. Forexample, the composition having a second functionality may be awater-softening or enzyme composition which is desirably available onlyat the beginning of the washing process. The composition having a secondfunctionality may also be a detergent composition which is desirablyavailable during the main washing process. Another possibility is forthe composition having a second functionality to be available at the endof the washing process. For example, the composition having a secondfunctionality may be a fabric conditioner or a rinse aid.

In another embodiment, which may, if desired, be combined with the aboveembodiment, the water-soluble container may contain a composition whichshould not be directly handled, such as an enzyme or irritant such as ableach.

The water-soluble container may be prepared from a component which hasthe desired release profile for the composition having a secondfunctionality. It may, for example, comprise a water-soluble film ormoulding comprising a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH), a cellulose derivativesuch as hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), poly(vinylpyrrolidone)(PVP), poly(acrylic acid) or an ester thereof, poly(maleic acid) or anester thereof, and gelatin. Copolymers of any of the above may also beused.

PVOH is preferred. The PVOH is water-soluble (which term is taken toinclude water-dispersible), for example in cold or warm water. Bychoosing an appropriate PVOH polymer it is possible to ensure that itdissolves at a desired temperature. Thus the PVOH film may be cold water(20° C.) soluble, but may be insoluble in cold water and only becomesoluble in warm or hot water having a temperature of, for example, 30°C., 40° C., 50° C. or even 60° C. The PVOH may be partially or fullyalcoholised or hydrolysed. For example it may be from 40 to 100%,preferably from 70 to 92%, more preferably about 88%, alcoholised orhydrolysed. The degree of hydrolysis is known to influence thetemperature at which the PVOH starts to dissolve in water. Modified PVOHpolymers such as ethoxylated PVOH may also be used. If desired, the PVOHfilm may be substantially anhydrous, for example having a water contentof less than 5 wt %.

The PVOH film may be produced by, for example, casting or blowing. Thefilm may be a single film. However, it is possible for the film to be inthe form of a laminate, for example with another PVOH film or withanother polymer such as a cellulose derivative such as hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC), poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), poly(acrylicacid) or an ester thereof, poly(maleic acid) or an ester thereof, andgelatin. Copolymers of any of the above may also be used. The laminatemay, for example, have 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 or more layers.

The PVOH film may consist essentially of, or consist of, the PVOH. It ispossible for suitable additives such as plasticisers, lubricants andcolouring agents to be added. Components which modify the properties ofthe polymer may also be added. Plasticisers are generally used in anamount of up to 20 wt %, for example from 10 to 20 wt %. Lubricants aregenerally used in an amount of 0.5 to 5 wt %. The PVOH is thereforegenerally used in an amount of from 75 to 84.5 wt %, based on the totalweight of the film. Suitable plasticisers are, for example,pentaerythritols such as depentaerythritol, sorbitol, mannitol,glycerine and glycols such as glycerol, ethylene glycol and polyethyleneglycol. Solids such as talc, stearic acid, magnesium stearate, silicondioxide, zinc stearate or colloidal silica may be used as lubricants.

It is also possible to include one or more particulate solids in thefilm in order to accelerate the rate of dissolution thereof. Dissolutionof the solid in water is sufficient to cause an acceleration in thebreak-up of the film, particularly if a gas is generated.

Examples of such solids are alkali and alkaline earth metal, such assodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium, bicarbonate and carbonate, inconjunction with an acid. Suitable acids are, for example acidicsubstances having carboxylic or sulfonic acid groups or salts thereof.Examples are cinnamic, tartaric, mandelic, fumaric, maleic, malic,palmoic, citric and naphthalene disulfonic acids, as free acids or astheir salts, for example with alkali or alkaline earth metals.

If the water-soluble container is prepared from a film, the film mayhave any desired thickness. The film may also, if desired, be laminated.Suitable total thicknesses for the film are 40 to 300 μm, morepreferably 80 to 200 μm, especially 100 to 160 μn, more especially 100to 160 μm and most especially 120 to 160 μm.

The film may be unoriented, mono-axially oriented or bi-axiallyoriented. In a laminate each film layer may independently be unoriented,mono-axially oriented or bi-axially oriented. If more than one film inthe laminate is oriented, they may have the same orientation, or theirplanes of orientation may be different if desired. The final laminatemay also be unoriented, mono-axially oriented or bi-axially oriented.

The composition in the water-soluble container may be any compositionwhich is intended to be released in a washing environment. It may be acomposition which is incompatible with the composition on the textilearticle. It may also be a composition which is incompatible with theatmosphere, for example a hygroscopic component, or a composition whichis considered by a consumer to be unpleasant. For example, it may havean unpleasant odour, or may have an unattractive colour, such as yellow,which would not be acceptable when the composition is placed on thetextile article, which should generally be white. Consumers may find itinappropriate to place a coloured textile article in a washing process,particularly a laundry washing process.

The composition may, for example, be a fabric care, surface care ordishwashing composition. Thus, for example, it may be a dishwashing,water-softening, laundry or detergent composition, or a rinse aid. Suchcompositions may be suitable for use in a domestic washing machine. Suchcompositions are generally packaged in amounts of from 0.5 to 100 g,preferably from 5 to 100 g, especially from 15 to 40 g. For example, adishwashing composition may weigh from 15 to 30 g, a water-softeningcomposition may weigh from 15 to 40 g, and a laundry composition mayweigh from 0.5 to 40 g, preferably from 15 to 40 g.

The composition(s) may be a solid. For example, it may be a particulateor granulated solid, or a tablet. It may also be a liquid, which may bethickened or gelled if desired. The liquid composition may benon-aqueous (i.e. anhydrous) or aqueous, for example comprising lessthan or more than 5 wt % total or free water. An anhydrous compositiongenerally contains less than 1 wt %, preferably less than 0.5 wt %water. The composition may have more than one phase. For example it maycomprise an aqueous composition and a liquid composition which isimmiscible with the aqueous composition. It may also comprise a liquidcomposition and a separate solid composition, for example in the form ofa ball, or pill or speckles. The liquid composition may be thickened orgelled.

If the composition is an aqueous liquid having a relatively high watercontent, for example above 5 wt % water, it may be necessary to takesteps to ensure that the liquid does not attack the water-solublepolymer if it is soluble in cold water, or water up to a temperature of,say, 35° C. Steps may be taken to treat the inside surfaces of thecontainer, for example by coating it with agents such as PVdC(poly(vinylidene dichloride)) or PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), or toadapt the composition to ensure it does not dissolve the polymer. Forexample, it has been found that ensuring the composition has a highionic strength or contains an agent which minimises water loss throughthe walls of the container will prevent the composition form dissolvingthe polymer from the inside. This is described in more detail inEP-A-518,689 and WO 97/27,743.

The water-soluble containers may, if desired, have a maximum dimensionof 10 cm, especially a maximum dimension of 5 cm excluding any flangeswhich may be present. For example, a container may have a length of 1 to15 cm, especially 1 to 5 cm, more especially 3.5 to 4.5 cm, a width of0.5 to 5 cm, especially 1.5 to 3.5 cm, more especially 2 to 3 cm, and aheight of 0.5 to 3 cm, especially 1 to 2 cm, more especially 1.25 to1.75 cm.

The composition may, for example, comprise a dye complexing agent suchas PVNO, which is yellow and has an unpleasant odour and thereforedesirably not present on the textile article. Other complexing agentswhich may be used are polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinylalcohol(PVA), polyvinylimidazole (PVI), polyamine-N-oxides, cationic starches,minerals such as magnesium aluminate and hydrotalcite, polyethyleneimines, polyvinyloxazolidones, enzymatic systems such as peroxidases andoxidases, oxidants, surfactants such as cationic, anionic, nonionic oramphoteric surfactants and propylene oxide reaction products.

The composition may, for example, comprise a bleach such as a perborateor percarbonate, particularly an alkali metal perborate or percarbonatesuch as sodium perborate or percarbonate, or a peroxide, which desirablyis not directly handled by a consumer. In this instance it isparticularly suitable for the textile article to comprise acomplementary composition, for example a bleach booster such as TAED.

The composition may, for example, contain surface active agents such asan anionic, non-ionic, cationic, amphoteric or zwitterionic surfaceactive agents or mixtures thereof.

Examples of anionic surfactants are straight-chained or branched alkylsulfates and alkyl polyalkoxylated sulfates, also known as alkyl ethersulfates. Such surfactants may be produced by the sulfation of higherC₈-C₂₀ fatty alcohols.

Examples of primary alkyl sulfate surfactants are those of formula:ROSO₃ ⁻M⁺wherein R is a linear C₈-C₂₀ hydrocarbyl group and M is awater-solubilising cation. Preferably R is C₁₀-C₁₆ alkyl, for exampleC₁₂-C₁₄, and M is alkali metal such as lithium, sodium or potassium.

Examples of secondary alkyl sulfate surfactants are those which have thesulfate moiety on a “backbone” of the molecule, for example those offormula:CH₂(CH₂)_(n)(CHOSO₃ ⁻M⁺)(CH₂)_(m)CH₃wherein m and n are independently 2 or more, the sum of m+n typicallybeing 6 to 20, for example 9 to 15, and M is a water-solubilising cationsuch as lithium, sodium or potassium.

Especially preferred secondary alkyl sulfates are the (2,3) alkylsulfate surfactants of formulae:CH₂(CH₂)_(x)(CHOSO₃ ⁻M⁺)CH₃ andCH₃(CH₂)_(x)(CHOSO₃ ⁻M⁺)CH₂CH₃for the 2-sulfate and 3-sulfate, respectively. In these formulae x is atleast 4, for example 6 to 20, preferably 10 to 16. M is cation, such asan alkali metal, for example lithium, sodium or potassium.

Examples of alkoxylated alkyl sulfates are ethoxylated alkyl sulfates ofthe formula:RO(C₂H₄O)_(n)SO₃ ⁻M⁺wherein R is a C₈-C₂₀ alkyl group, preferably C₁₀-C₁₈ such as a C₁₂-C₁₆,n is at least 1, for example from 1 to 20, preferably 1 to 15,especially 1 to 6, and M is a salt-forming cation such as lithium,sodium, potassium, ammonium, alkylammonium or alkanolammonium. Thesecompounds can provide especially desirable fabric cleaning performancebenefits when used in combination with alkyl sulfates.

The alkyl sulfates and alkyl ether sulfates will generally be used inthe form of mixtures comprising varying alkyl chain lengths and, ifpresent, varying degrees of alkoxylation.

Other anionic surfactants which may be employed are salts of fattyacids, for example C₈-C₁₈ fatty acids, especially the sodium orpotassium salts, and alkyl, for example C₈-C₁₈, benzene sulfonates.

Examples of non-ionic surfactants are fatty acid alkoxylates, such asfatty acid ethoxylates, especially those of formula:R(C₂H₄O)_(n)OHwherein R is a straight or branched C₈-C₁₆ alkyl group, preferably aC₉-C₁₅, for example C₁₀-C₁₄, alkyl group and n is at least 1, forexample from 1 to 16, preferably 2 to 12, more preferably 3 to 10.

The alkoxylated fatty alcohol non-ionic surfactant will frequently havea hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) which ranges from 3 to 17, morepreferably from 6 to 15, most preferably from 10 to 15.

Examples of fatty alcohol ethoxylates are those made from alcohols of 12to 15 carbon atoms and which contain about 7 moles of ethylene oxide.Such materials are commercially marketed under the trademarks Neodol25-7 and Neodol 23-6.5 by Shell Chemical Company. Other useful Neodolsinclude Neodol 1-5, an ethoxylated fatty alcohol averaging 11 carbonatoms in its alkyl chain with about 5 moles of ethylene oxide; Neodol23-9, an ethoxylated primary C₁₂-C₁₃ alcohol having about 9 moles ofethylene oxide; and Neodol 91-10, an ethoxylated C₉-C₁₁ primary alcoholhaving about 10 moles of ethylene oxide.

Alcohol ethoxylates of this type have also been marketed by ShellChemical Company under the Dobanol trademark. Dobanol 91-5 is anethoxylated C₉-C₁₁ fatty alcohol with an average of 5 moles ethyleneoxide and Dobanol 25-7 is an ethoxylated C₁₂-C₁₅ fatty alcohol with anaverage of 7 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of fatty alcohol.

Other examples of suitable ethoxylated alcohol □on-ionic surfactantsinclude Tergitol 15-S-7 and Tergitol 15-S-9, both of which are linearsecondary alcohol ethoxylates available from Union Carbide Corporation.Tergitol 15-S-7 is a mixed ethoxylated product of a C₁₁-C₁₅ linearsecondary alkanol with 7 moles of ethylene oxide and Tergitol 15-S-9 isthe same but with 9 moles of ethylene oxide.

Other suitable alcohol ethoxylated non-ionic surfactants are Neodol45-11, which is a similar ethylene oxide condensation products of afatty alcohol having 14-15 carbon atoms and the number of ethylene oxidegroups per mole being about 11. Such products are also available fromShell Chemical Company.

Further non-ionic surfactants are, for example, C₁₀-C₁₈ alkylpolyglycosides, such as C₁₂-C₁₆ alkyl polyglycosides, especially thepolyglucosides. These are especially useful when high foamingcompositions are desired. Further surfactants are polyhydroxy fatty acidamides, such as C₁₀-C₁₈ N-(3-methoxypropyl) glycamides and ethyleneoxide-propylene oxide block polymers of the Pluronic type.

Examples of cationic surfactants are those of the quaternary ammoniumtype.

The total content of surfactants in the composition, should thecomposition be one which comprises surfactants, is desirably 60 to 95 wt%, especially 75 to 90 wt %. Desirably an anionic surfactant is presentin an amount of 50 to 75 wt %, the non-ionic surfactant is present in anamount of 5 to 20 wt %, and/or the cationic surfactant is present in anamount of from 0 to 20 wt %. The amounts are based on the total solidscontent of the composition, i.e. excluding any solvent which may bepresent.

The composition, particularly when used as laundry washing ordishwashing composition, may also comprise enzymes, such as protease,lipase, amylase, cellulase and peroxidase enzymes. Such enzymes arecommercially available and sold, for example, under the registered trademarks Esperesc, Alcalasc and Savinasc by Nova Industries A/S andMaxatasc by International Biosynthetics, Inc. Desirably the enzymes arepresent in the composition in an amount of from 0.5 to 3 wt %,especially 1 to 2 wt %.

The composition may, if desired, comprise a thickening agent or gellingagent. Suitable thickeners are polyacrylate polymers such as those soldunder the trade mark CARBOPOL, or the trade mark ACUSOL by Rohm and HassCompany. Other suitable thickeners are xanthan gums. The thickener, ifpresent, is generally present in an amount of from 0.2 to 4 wt %,especially 0.5 to 2 wt %.

Dishwasher compositions usually comprise a detergency builder. Suitablebuilders are alkali metal or ammonium phosphates, polyphosphates,phosphonates, polyphosphonates, carbonates, bicarbonates, borates,polyhydroxysulfonates, polyacetates, carboxylates such as citrates, andpolycarboxylates. The builder is desirably present in an amount of up to90 wt %, preferably 15 to 90 wt %, more preferable 15 to 75 wt %,relative to the total weight of the composition. Further details ofsuitable components are given in, for example, EP-A-694,059,EP-A-518,720 and WO 99/06522.

The compositions can also optionally comprise one or more additionalingredients. These include conventional detergent composition componentssuch as further surfactants, bleaches, bleach enhancing agents,builders, suds boosters or suds suppressors, anti-tarnish andanti-corrosion agents, organic solvents, co-solvents, phase stabilisers,emulsifying agents, preservatives, soil suspending agents, soil releaseagents, germicides, pH adjusting agents or buffers, non-builderalkalinity sources, chelating agents, clays such as smectite clays,enzyme stabilizers, anti-limescale agents, colourants, dyes,hydrotropes, dye transfer inhibiting agents, brighteners, and perfumes.If used, such optional ingredients will generally constitute no morethan 10 wt %, for example from 1 to 6 wt %, the total weight of thecompositions.

The builders counteract the effects of calcium, or other ion, waterhardness encountered during laundering or bleaching use of thecompositions herein. Examples of such materials are citrate, succinate,malonate, carboxymethyl succinate, carboxylate, polycarboxylate andpolyacetyl carboxylate salts, for example with alkali metal or alkalineearth metal cations, or the corresponding free acids. Specific examplesare sodium, potassium and lithium salts of oxydisuccinic acid, melliticacid, benzene polycarboxylic acids, C₁₀-C₂₂ fatty acids and citric acid.Other examples are organic phosphonate type sequestering agents such asthose sold by Monsanto under the trade mark Dequest and alkylhydroxyphosphonates. Citrate salts and C₁₂-C₁₈ fatty acid soaps are preferred.

Other suitable builders are polymers and copolymers known to havebuilder properties. For example, such materials include appropriatepolyacrylic acid, polymaleic acid, and polyacrylic/polymaleic andcopolymers and their salts, such as those sold by BASF under the trademark Sokalan.

The builders generally constitute from 0 to 3 wt %, more preferably from0.1 to 1 wt %, by weight of the compositions.

Compositions which comprise an enzyme may optionally contain materialswhich maintain the stability of the enzyme. Such enzyme stabilizersinclude, for example, polyols such as propylene glycol, boric acid andborax. Combinations of these enzyme stabilizers may also be employed. Ifutilized, the enzyme stabilizers generally constitute from 0.1 to 1 wt %of the compositions.

The compositions may optionally comprise materials which serve as phasestabilizers and/or co-solvents. Example are C₁-C₃ alcohols such asmethanol, ethanol and propanol. C₁-C₃ alkanolamines such as mono-, di-and triethanolamines can also be used, by themselves or in combinationwith the alcohols. The phase stabilizers and/or co-solvents can, forexample, constitute 0 to 1 wt %, preferably 0.1 to 0.5 wt %, of thecomposition.

The compositions may optionally comprise components which adjust ormaintain the pH of the compositions at optimum levels. The pH may befrom, for example, 1 to 13, such as 8 to 11 depending on the nature ofthe composition. For example a dishwashing composition desirably has apH of 8 to 11, a laundry composition desirable has a pH of 7 to 9, and awater-softening composition desirably has a pH of 7 to 9. Examples of pHadjusting agents are NaOH and citric acid.

Any of the above compositions may also be added to the textile article,for example, impregnated therein.

The material of the present invention can, for example, be used toseparate different components for various reasons. For instance,components which may lack stability may be separated. Thus the firstfunctionality or the second functionality may be a bleach and the othermay be a bleach boaster, one may be a bleach and the other may be anenzyme, one may be a dye transfer inhibitor and the other may be ananionic surfactant, one may be a fabric conditioner and the other may bean anionic surfactant. It may also be desirable to separate componentsfor aesthetic reasons or to provide release at different times or overdifferent time release profiles, for example one may be a bleach and theother may be an enzyme, one may be a fabric conditioner and the othermay be a surfactant or one may be a brightener and the other may be adye fixing agent or DTI. Furthermore, it may be desirable to separatecomponents for safety reasons, such as enzymes from some surfactants.

The material of the present invention may comprise one or more textilearticles, which may be the same or different. Desirably the materialcomprises a single textile article. The material of the presentinvention may also comprise one or more water-soluble containers. Suchcontainers may have the same or different release profile and/or containthe same or different compositions. Desirably, if more than onecontainer is present, the containers contain different compositions, forexample compositions which are incompatible with each other. Thecontainers may also have different release profiles, for example torelease one composition at one stage of the washing process and anothercomposition at another stage.

The material of the present invention may also comprise othercomponents, such as a handle which does not become saturated with waterduring the washing process for easy handling, or a hook for attachingthe material to the inside of a washing machine, in particular aware-washing machine.

The material of the present invention may be prepared by simplyattaching the textile article and the water-soluble container. They maybe permanently attached (until the water-soluble container dissolves),or removably attached. Suitably the textile article and water-solublecontainer are attached by an adhesive. A suitable adhesive is water oran aqueous solution of the polymer from which the walls of thewater-soluble container are formed. They my also be attached by othermeans, such as by heating using gentle pressure and heat, for example apressure of about 1 Kg/cm and a temperature of 130 to 140° C.

It is also possible to prepare the material of the present invention byforming the water-soluble container around or through the textilearticle. For example, the water-soluble container can be formed aroundpart or all of the textile article from any of the polymers mentionedabove as well as components, particularly polymers or coating agents,which have no or little inherent strength or no film-forming properties,such as a PEG.

The material of the present invention may have any desired physicalform. Thus, for example, it may comprise a textile article in the formof a sheet, particularly a rectangular sheet, with the water-solublecontainer placed near an edge. The water-soluble container is moresuitably placed at a corner, or is elongate and extends at least partlyalong one edge. When packaged the textile article may, if desired, bewrapped around the water-soluble container to provide a certain degreeof protection from knocks, and to act as a reservoir for the compositioninside the water-soluble container should it burst or leak before use.The material of the present invention may also comprise one or moretextile articles surrounded partly or, more desirably, completely be awater-soluble coating

The material of the present invention may be packaged in outercontainers if desired, for example either singly or in a ply of two ormore sheets, The present invention is further explained in the followingExamples:

EXAMPLES Example 1

A wipe containing a bleach booster for greasy and oxidizable soils andintended to be added to a laundry wash was prepared. Non woven sheets,measuring 12×5.7 cm, with a basis weight of 90 g/m², made out of the 70%rayon and 30% polyester, were impregnated by dipping them in a solutionconsisting of 7.9% PEG1500, 12% PEG4000, 8% PEG6000 and 73% aliphaticethoxylated alcohol (C₁₃₋₁₅, AO7). To increase the fluidity of thesolution, the components were gently heated together. The sheetsabsorbed about 10 grams of the solution.

Using conventional heat sealing technology, two compartment poucheshaving dimensions of 12×2×1 cm were made out of 70 μm thick poly(vinylalcohol) film and filled with 12.4 g of percarbonate in one compartment(length 8 cm) and 2.6 g TAED in the other (length 4 cm). After thesheets had dried, the sachets were attached to the top of them byheating sealing.

Example 2

A bleach boaster on a wipe was prepared for greasy, proteolytic andoxidisable soil, to be added to a laundry wash. The process of Example 1was repeated except that 0.4 g of Enzyme 45 was included in the smallercompartment along with the TAED.

Example 3

A DTI on a wipe was prepared. 2.4 g of a 20% w/w water solution ofpolyvinylpyridine-N-oxide (PVNO) were sprayed on to 30.00 g of zeolites4A, which had previously been dried in an oven at 150° C., while mixingin a powder mixer. The thus obtained powder composition was ground in agrinder.

Using conventional heating sealing technology, pouches having dimensionsof 9×1.5×0.3 cm were prepared from 70 μm thick poly(vinyl alcohol) filmand filled with 6 g of the powder composition. The sachets were thenattached by means of heat sealing onto the top of nonwoven sheets havingdimensions of 11.5×21 cm of cellulose based quaternerised fabric havinga basis weight of 75 g/m².

Example 4

A DTI on a wipe was prepared. 7.63 g of a 20% w/w water solution ofpolyvinylpyridine-N-oxide (PVNO) were sprayed onto 30.00 g of sodiumcitrate which had previously been dried in an oven at 150° C. The thusobtained powder composition was ground in a grinder.

Using conventional heating sealing technology, pouches having dimensionsof 9×1.5×0.3 cm were prepared from 70 μm thick poly(vinyl alcohol) filmand filled with 6 g of the powder composition. The sachets were thenattached by means of heat sealing onto the top of nonwoven sheets havingdimensions of 11.5×21 cm of cellulose based quaternerised fabric havinga basis weight of 75 g/m².

1. A material for use in washing comprising a textile article having afirst functionality and attached to the textile article a water-solublecontainer enclosing a composition having a second functionality.
 2. Amaterial according to claim 1 wherein the textile article has acomposition having a first functionality reversibly impregnated thereinor deposited thereon.
 3. A material according to claim 1 wherein thecomposition having a second functionality is a water-softeningcomposition or a bleach booster.
 4. A material according to claim 1wherein the textile article has active moieties bound thereto.
 5. Amaterial according to claim 4 wherein the active moieties arecalcium-binding moieties.
 6. A material according to claim 1 wherein thetextile article is a cloth.
 7. A material according to claim 1 whereinthe water-soluble container has walls formed from a poly(vinyl alcohol)or cellulose derivative.
 8. A material according to claim 1 wherein thecomposition having a second functionality is in solid form.
 9. Amaterial according to claim 1 wherein the composition having a secondfunctionality comprises a bleach, an enzyme or a dye complexing agent.10. A material according to claim 1 which comprises the water-solublecontainer attached to the textile article.
 11. A material according toclaim 1 which comprises the textile article partly or completelysurrounded by the water-soluble container.
 12. A material according toclaim 1 which is for adding to a laundry washing machine.
 13. A materialaccording to claim 1 which is for adding to a ware washing machine. 14.A method of laundry washing which comprises the steps of: placinglaundry and a material according to claim 12 in a laundry washingmachine; and, operating the machine to clean the laundry.
 15. A methodof ware washing which comprises the steps of: placing wares and amaterial according to claim 13 in a ware washing machine; and, operatingthe machine to clean the wares.